UPDATE: Archdiocese official arrested on sex charges in Lowell

LOWELL - Monsignor Arthur Coyle, a top official in the Merrimack Valley area for the Archdiocese of Boston, was arrested Sunday for soliciting a prostitute, after having been spotted by police allegedly circling around known prostitution spots in the city more than a dozen times in the past 10 months.

Coyle, who lives at St. Rita's Parish rectory on Mammoth Road, allegedly drove to the back of a cemetery off Boston Road with a woman in the passenger's seat who was a known prostitute, according to police. He had paid her $40 for oral sex, police said.

The archdiocese announced Monday afternoon that Coyle has taken a voluntary administrative leave as a result of the charges. While on leave, he is prohibited from performing any public ministry, which will last until an outcome is reached on the case, the office said.

"The steps taken today do not represent a determination of Msgr. Coyle's guilt or innocence as it pertains to these charges," the archdiocese said in a statement. "The archdiocese asks for prayers for all impacted by this matter."

Coyle was named episcopal vicar for Merrimack Valley in 2008, according to the archdiocese. He was ordained a priest in 1977.

Coyle, 62, was honored last December - a month after he allegedly was first stopped for suspected solicitation in Lowell - by Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley and Pope Benedict XVI, given the title of Prelate of Honor.

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In a statement, O'Malley credited Coyle for "exemplary service" throughout his priesthood and said Coyle's leadership as episcopal vicar would be "of great assistance" as the archdiocese moved ahead with plans to reorganize some parishes.

Coyle is also a trustee at Lowell Catholic High School and Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton. No one authorized to comment at Lowell Catholic was available Monday afternoon. Cardinal Spellman declined to comment.

The Missionary Society of Saint James the Apostle, where Coyle serves as a ex-officio director, also had no one available to comment Monday.

Three police officers in Lowell's Special Investigations Section, which investigates drug and prostitution crimes, spotted Coyle on Sunday allegedly driving on Branch Street, near spots known for prostitution. Officers were familar with Coyle's black Chevrolet Equinox, seeing him circle around the areas at night "well over a dozen times" since he was first stopped last November, officer Rafael Rivera said in his report.

Shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, officers began following his vehicle based on Rivera's observance that Coyle was allegedly with a woman who was known to police as a prostitute and drug user. Coyle drove down Plain Street and Boston Road before turning into the Holy Trinity Polish Cemetery and driving toward the back, according to police.

Coyle was "very nervous and startled" when the officer approached the vehicle moments later, and after being read his Miranda rights, Coyle admitted to picking up the woman for sex, according to the report. The woman said it was the second time he had done so with her, the report said.

Coyle was first allegedly stopped by police last November, when officers spotted his car on off Gorham Street repeatedly passing by a known prostitute and pulling to the side of the road to get her attention, police said. Coyle allegedly said he was "just driving around" and denied passing through the area multiple times.

Since that incident, officers have spotted him allegedly driving at night through Appleton and Westford streets, two spots known for prostitution. He would "stop and slow down every time he sees a single female or a known prostitute walking in these areas," Rivera said.

"These areas are well known locations where prostitution-related activity occurs and these areas are targeted for increased enforcement due to complaints from the area residents."

At his arraignment Monday, an attorney for Coyle said he has no criminal record and has been with the same employer for 36 years.

When asked by the judge what Coyle does for a job, the attorney quietly answered "priest." Coyle, dressed in khakis and a buttoned-down plaid shirt, appeared to be in court alone.

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